Theory of Strain - Essay Example

Theory of Strain Robert Merton developed the strain theory with the aim of explaining why there was deviant behavior within the society. Robert argued that the society can be set up in a manner that encourages too much deviance for example, when socially accepted norms put pressure on an individual to conform, they force the individual to work within the societal structure or become deviant in an attempt to achieve the societal norms (Adler, Laufer & Mueller,2011). According to Merton, there are certain modes of adaptation for example, conformity, ritualism, innovation, and retreatism.

Conformity involves following cultural goals using approved means. Innovation involves people adapting to behaviors like stealing, selling drugs, and crime because of a poor background with the aim of culturally approved goals like finances. Ritualism occurs when certain individuals in the society are unable to reach cultural goals and they adapt by rejecting these set societal goals. Retreatism comes in if individuals of the society fail to achieve cultural goals but instead they withdraw as a means of adapting to their current situations (Adler, Laufer, and Mueller, 2011).

This theory is very useful especially in relating to real life events like playing games and sports. This paper discusses the relation between the strain theory and social programs developed to achieve winning or losing at a game event. Every game event must have a winner or a loser but according to the societal norms, there is no one who likes losing because a loss is associated with failure. There are certain societal norms that have been set in order to promote these game events for example in a game of racing, a prize is put for the winner, the runners up and the third person.

No prize is given to losers. Therefore, people participate in the race with the aim of getting a prize. Since the prize can only be given to one person, those who lose often feel bad and they adapt by retreatism, giving an excuse as to why they did not win. The winners innovate their ideas and become even better incase another racing event occurs. Therefore, no matter the means used by the winner to win the racing game as long as the rules of the game were followed the society appreciates the winner more than the loser.

Winning a game is the ultimate target of any game player. This is one of the social programs put in order to differentiate the deviant behaviors within the society. Any game in the society is a social event that brings people together because they gather to witness the winner and the loser. Games are also social programs with the culture of a particular society incorporated in them. Some societies believe in participating in certain games like donkey riding races one a year. An event like this helps people in the society to adapt differently to societal norms.

ReferencesAdler, Freda, William S Laufer, and Gerhard O. W Mueller. Criminal Justice. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill, 2011. Print.